Wire fence fabric having selected horizontal strands electrically insulated



Nov. 14, 1950 J. c. KOONZ 2,530,247

WIRE FENCE FABRIC HAVING SELECTED HORIZONTAL STRANDS ELECTRICALLY INSULATED Filed July 13, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l 14 John C. K0072;

Inventor Nov. 14, 1950 J. c. KOONZ 2,530,247

WIRE FENCE FABRIC HAVING SELECTED HORIZONTAL STRANDS ELECTRICALLY INSULATED Filed July 15, 1946 2 SheetsSheet 2 J g- John C. Koorzg Jmren/or 35 33 By J L Patented Nov. 14, 1950 -WIRE FENCE FABRIC HAVING SELECTED HORIZONTAL INSULATED STRANDS .ELECTRICALLY John C. Koonz, Fort Wayne, Ind.

Application July 13, 1946, Serial No. 683,346

. 3 Claims. 1 This invention relates to a new and improved combination fence and particularly to a wire fence adapted to form an enclosure and having certain portions thereof electrically charged.

An important object of this invention is to provide a regularly manufactured pre-woven fence supplied with certain of the horizontal strands of wire electrically insulated from the remainder of. the fence so that these insulated wires may be electrically charged if desired.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a wire fence effective for use as a gen- .eral farm fence for enclosing all types of animals.

A further object of this invention is to construct a pre-woven general utility wire fence with certain of the component horizontal wire strands electrically insulated from the other wire strands constituting. the remainder of the fence.

A still further object of the invention is to optionally cause any one or more of a plurality of electrically insulated wire strands in a general purpose fence to, be electrically charged to accommodate any specific use or uses to which the fence may be put.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the disclosures in the following specification and accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a, fence incorporating the principles of this invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the wire fence of this invention.

Fig. 3 is a verticalsectional view of the fence as shown in Fig. 1 and adjacent one of the supporting posts.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing a modified form offence construction.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view showing another modified form of fence construction.

Fig.6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 7-1 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 5.

As shown in the drawing, the reference numeral Ill indicates generally the combination fence of this invention. The fence l0 consists of a plurality of interlocked horizontal and vertical strands of wire II and [2 respectively, and as shown in Figure 1 the wire fence is mounted on spaced posts [3.

There are many types of farm fences, certain of which are designed for enclosing just one kind of animal. Still other fences are constructed to effectively'enclose more than one type of animal. These fences occasionally are supplemented with a barbed wire placed above the fence to increase the possibility of the animals remaining within the fenced enclosure. Recently, however, separate electrically insulated wires have been placed between fence posts either alone or spaced above regular wire mesh fences as in the case of barbed wire and then electrically charged to impart an electric shock to animals or the like which might come in contact with the charged wire.

The present fence combines the regular wire mesh fence, and in its construction certain of the horizontal strands of wire are electrically insulated from the remainder of the fence so that any one or several may be electrically charged depending on the type of animal placed within the enclosure. As shown in Figure 2 of the drawing, a plurality of horizontal strands H are vertically spaced apart and are maintained in such vertical spacing by a plurality of horizontally spaced vertical wires l2. In constructing the fence the vertical wires are twisted about each of the horizontal strands as shown at 54. The twist I4 comprises a winding of the vertical strand about the horizontal strand and takes place on each of the spaced horizontal wires, as a result of which a full wire fence is formed.

Electrical insulators l5, which may be made of any suitable material such as fibre glass, rubber or porcelain or the like, in the form of sleeve members are placed around and over the horizontal wire 16 positioned relatively close to the ground line. These electrical insulators [5 are positioned between the horizontal wire l5 and the vertical wires [2, and instead of winding the vertical wire directly about the horizontal wire 16 the twisting of the vertical wire takes place about and over the sleeve-like insulators 15. This winding of the vertical wire about the insulators l5 maintains them in fixed position relative to the remaining wire strands composing the fence and indirectly maintains the horizontal wire IS in fixed but. electrically insulated position with respect to the remainder of the fence. This procedure is followed on the top horizontal strand I! of this combination fence. Electrical sleevelike insulators l8 surround the top horizontal wire I! and are maintained in position by winding the vertical strands thereabout. This winding is shown at 19.

The fence constructed as shown in Figure 2 has two horizontal strands of wire [6 and I1 electrically insulated from the remainder of the wire fence. The horizontal wires composing th fence are spaced to afford an enclosure for small as well as large animals. If the fence is used for animals of various sizes it might be desirable to electrically charge both of the insulated strands of wire I6 and 41. However, if only small animals are enclosed within the fence, then it would be desirable only to charge the wire 16 which is positioned closely adjacent the ground line. Likewise if the fence is to enclose large animals, only the top wire I! would be electrically charged. As shown in Figure 1, an electrical wire charging box 20 is mounted on the corner fence post Hat and has a lead wire 2| connected to either of the electrically insulated wires l6 and [1. If it is desired to charge both of th wires l3 and I1 simultaneously, then an additional connecting wire 22 is provided and is shown joining the two insulated wires l 6 and H. The other terminal on the charging box 20 is grounded as shown at 22a. In some instances it may not be desired to electrically charge any of the wires in the fence. However, it is the purpose of this invention to provide a combination fence with oneor more of the horizontal strands of wire electrically insulated from the remainder of the fence so that the fence may be electrically charged to be effective against passage of any animal of any size.

As best shown in Figure 3, the fence is attached to the posts [3 through the medium of insulators 23 and 24. These insulators are the split type having inner and outer portions 25 and 26 and 21 and 28 respectively. Between the inner and outer portions of each of these insulators a socket is provided for the reception of the electrically insulated wires I6 and H. Bolts 29 and 30 hold their respective inner and outer insulating portions together and also fasten the fence to the post 13 by means of nuts 3| and 32.

The fence construction shown in Figure 2 is commonly known as the hinge type. It gets its name from the fact that the vertical strand of wire I2 is composed of a plurality of short pieces just extending from one horizontal strand to another. The short vertical strands permit hinging of the fence about any horizontal strand. In contradistinction to this hinge construction, the modified fence shown in Figure 4 is of the rigid type wherein the Vertical strands of wire 33 are in one continuous piece with loops drawn therein at the point of each horizontal strand and twisted thereabout at 34. In this modification also the type of electrical insulators between certain of the horizontal and vertical strands is different from that shown in Figures 1 and 2. The vertical strand 33 is provided with a rubber or similar coating 35 at the point of its twist on the horizontal strands 36 and 31. This electrically insulates the two strands 36 and 31 from the remainder of the fence. Figure 6 shows the uncovered vertical strand 33, and Figure 7-shows the rubber covering 35 at the points of intersection with the strands 36 and 31.

In the modification shown in Figure the same type of fence as shown in Figure 4 is employed, but in this case the entire vertical strands are rubber coated so that all the horizontal strands are electrically insulated from the remainder of the fence and from each other. Figure 8 shows the vertical strand 33a having a full rubber or other insulating covering 35a In this fence, any one or more, or even all the horizontal strands may be electrically charged as each one is properly insulated from the other.

Numerous details of construction may be varied throughout a wide range without departing from the principles disclosed herein, and I therefore do not propose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A pre-woven wire fence fabric including a plurality of horizontally spaced vertical wire strands, a plurality of vertically spaced horizontal Wire strands, said vertical wire strands each having twisted portions around each of said horizontal wire strands at their intersections, and insulators positioned intermediate certain of said horizontal and vertical wire strand intersections and connected to said vertical strands, and an electrically chargeable wire extending through said insulator.

2. A pre-woven wire fence fabric as set forth in claim 1 in which the said insulators are disposed around the selected horizontal wire strands at the position of each intersection with a ver= tical wire strand whereby the vertical wire strands are twisted around the selected horizontal wire strands with the insulators separating all of the vertical wire strands from electrical contact with the selected horizontal wire strands.

3. A pre-woven wire fence fabric as set forth in claim 1 in which the said insulators comprise sleeve members telescopically engaging the selected horizontal wire strands at their intersection with every vertical Wire strand.

JOHN C. KOONZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 280,947 Ohl July 10, 1883 295,073 Stone Mar. 11, 1884 647,328 Riddle Apr. 10, 1900 660,140 Alley Oct. 23, 1900 714,718 Locke Dec. 2, 1902 732,231 Starling June 30, 1903 757,026 Cook et al. Apr. 12, 1904 830,921 Orr Sept. 11, 1906 973,576 Smail Oct. 25, 191

1,693,670 Salesas Dec. 4, 1928 2,276,559 Bashore Mar. 17, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 173,274 Germany July 10, 1906 

